Library Picks: Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad Novels

Ever since the July 24^th, 2012 publication date was announced, I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Broken Harbor, the fourth installment in Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of French’s books, I highly recommend picking one up for a perfect summer read, even if mystery is not your genre of choice.  French’s writing has a rich literary quality about it that will appeal to fiction readers who don’t normally wander into the mystery aisles; she has the rare ability to develop complex characters while still keeping the reader turning pages at a brisk pace.  The books are set up so that a minor character in one book shows up as the protagonist in another, so it’s not necessary to read them in order.  Here is a rundown of the first three novels and a sneak peek at the fourth. 

In the Woods (2007)

Nobody knows that Detective Rob Ryan was one of the boys involved in an unsolved mystery when two boys disappeared in the woods in a Dublin suburb 20 years ago.  So when he and his partner Cassie Maddox are called on to investigate the murder of a twelve-year-old girl that bears striking similarities to the two decades’ old case, he wonders if the two could be related.  The non-stop suspense, lyrical prose, and examination of the complicated relationship between Rob and Cassie made for an interesting read.  Although this was impressive for a debut novel, in my opinion the next books in the series get stronger.  So if you read this one first and you’re not blown away, it’s worth sticking to the series and giving the other books a try.

The Likeness (2008)

If you are willing to seriously suspend your disbelief and accept the premise that two unrelated people could look so much alike that even their best friends wouldn’t recognize the difference, then this will be a rewarding read.  When graduate student Lexie Madison is found murdered, Detective Sam O’Neill is stunned by her nearly identical resemblance to his fellow detective and current love interest, Cassie Maddox.  Taking advantage of the likeness, it is decided that Cassie will go undercover and pose as the dead woman as though she had survived the stabbing.  In hopes of catching the killer, “Lexie” will return home to live with her close-knit group of housemates and gather information.  Cassie is initially accepted as Lexie, but the situation gets complicated as she develops an emotional attachment to the very people whose trust she is betraying.  The psychological complexity of this thriller is fascinating once you allow yourself to be drawn into the unlikely scenario.  So far, this is my favorite novel of the series.

Faithful Place: A Novel (2010)

Twenty-two years after Rosie Daly supposedly ran off to England herself instead of keeping her promise to go to London with her then-boyfriend Frank Mackey, her suitcase is found in an abandoned home, hinting that perhaps her failure to meet him was not her own choice.  Now a detective, Frank returns to the childhood home he has tried so hard to avoid in order to find out what really happened to Rosie.  Inevitably, unresolved family quarrels interfere with the investigation as Frank not only has to deal with his parents and siblings, but also with his ex-wife and daughter.  Whereas in the first two books, the mystery to be solved is the focus of the story, this novel really deals with family dynamics and it’s a refreshing change. 

Broken Harbor (2012)

Like Frank Mackey who returns to his childhood home to investigate a case, Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy finds himself back in Broken Harbor investigating a grisly attack that has left Patrick Spain and his two children dead, with only his wife left barely alive.  Although the family seemed happy, Patrick Spain had lost his job and building had stalled in the luxury property development where they lived due to the recession.  Being back home reminds Mick of the tragedy that befell his own family when he lived there.  The advance reviews for Broken Harbor have been positive, so this promises to be another gripping installment in a series that doesn’t seem to be losing any steam.